Posts Tagged ‘Punk’

This was a benefit for an Indonesian study-project Kakak Asuh. “1.000 BeF (25 Euro) enables 1 kid to go to school for 1 year!”

Brob

I organised a couple of concerts like this, I think. [Actually this was the second in a row of 3; see 93-02-21 & 95-03-25] A friend of mine worked in Indonesia back then, and supported the project…

Sacha Baelen

‘Sarcasm’ (see also 93-11-07) was a crust-punk band from Leicester with ‘Mr Wanky’ Mark Gardener (vocals; played in ‘Extreme Noise Terror’ for a while), ‘Brillo Brilleaux’ (drums), Paul Reynolds (bass) & Colin Bennett (who had replaced guitarist Ben a.k.a. ‘Bené von Bastard’ by then I believe). Mr Wanky was also guitarist and vocalist for British punkrockers ‘The Wankys’, and he runs Noise Punk recs. The years before this they put out a couple of 7”s: Your Funeral My Party (on the Brazilian label Rotthenness recs, 91) & The Lowest Form Of Wit (on Neil Robinson’s Tribal War recs, 92). There was also a split-tape with the Japanese ‘C.F.U.D.L.’ (tracks from ‘Sarcasm’s unreleased second demo recorded in ‘91). They also did a few tapes for Polish labels: Mist Of Confusion (on Daniel Winiarek’s Demonstracja tapes, ‘93) & Demo I + Live (Kassandra promotion). In ’95 Brave New World was recorded (with Mark, Paul, Leigh & ‘Brillo’; released on a label from Paris) and Pawel Rzóska put the split-7” with ‘Sanctus Iuda’ out on his label Scream recs.

‘Sarcasm’ (photos by Wim De Leersnijder) [#2: local Pedro trying out vocals]

‘Rood Arch’ (an ‘emo’ band from Duncerque/Lille): Tomoy (ex ‘Scraps’) played bass, there was a second bassist Fred (ex ‘6 Feet Over’), and Pierre Anne (ex ‘6 Feet Over’ & ‘Scraps) played drums and sung. This was their first appearance here. Living just across the border they would be back a couple of times (94-11-19 & 95-12-03).

‘FingerPrint’, considered as one of the first socalled screamo bands, but the guys – Nicolas Fisseau (vocals), Christophe Mora (guitar), Thomas Guillanton (bass; also ‘Jasemine’ / ‘Ananda’) and Jérome Bessout (drums; also ‘Jasemine’) – didn’t want that label. They had played a few times at the V.V. before (93-05-22 & 93-09-17). In October ’93 they recorded their 7” We May Be Brothers.

Our mate Henk Loobuyck interviewed them for (the Vort’n Vis zine) Fifi #1 and there they informed us that 2 of them had been playing in a band called ‘Spicy Trick’ before. They mentioned ‘Downcast’, ‘Heroin’, ‘Still Life’, ‘Rorschach’, ‘Ivich’ & ‘Age’ as influences.

‘Undone’ an emo band with attention for DIY and politics from the Paris suburbs, were: Christophe Mora (drums; Stonehenge recs & distro), Stéphane ‘Scholl’ Brochier (guitar, Kleines Mädchen distro), Stéphane ‘Stu’ Joly (bass & vocals; later ‘Ananda) and Sullivan ‘Sully’ Chédanne (vocals). When Christophe contacted me to distribute ‘Undone’s their stuff, he described their music as a mix of ‘Downcast’ and ‘Neurosis’… Their 1st (untitled) EP was out on Christophe’s label Stonehenge recs (recorded end of ’93). They’d recorded a demo earlier with Renaud Mary as drummer. Right before this gig they’d also recorded for the split-EP with ‘Shatter The Myth’… They would be back here a few times (94-08-21 / 95-09-15 / 95-12-03) and I published an interview with the band in Tilt! #8.

Brob

Guillaume Caouissin was the bassist of ‘Shatter The Myth’ and ‘Sea Shepherd’. He was the ‘driver’ for ‘FingerPrint’ and ‘Undone’…so he always hung out with us… He lives in Peru [Brob: I think he’s in Ethiopia now.].

Christophe Mora

Christophe intends to re-issue the ‘Undone’ discography on his label. ‘Sully’ lives in Australia (and has a child, I think). ‘Stu’ has played in a (rather metal) band, ‘Carmina’, some time…

At that time, the Vort’n Vis was really an unavoidable place, with its festivals (e.g. Leed), where everyone met up. I think it’s there that I have my best gigs. Practically every band passed by. It was madness! My biggest regret is that I missed ‘Born Against’ and ‘Nausea’! We had no place like that in France. And the punk-scene was still a lot of ‘rock’…

In 1993 ‘Inkisição’ (from Aveiro), a HC/punk band singing in Portugese, consisted of Miguel [Helena: Miguel Angelo Marques Tavares] (vocals), Rui Maia (drums), Oliviera (guitar) and Píncaro (bass). At the time of this gig Helena ‘Lena’ Paula Burbuleta (Rui’s girlfriend/later wife) had joined the band as extra vocalist. Píncaro then played guitar (also in ‘Mentes Podres’) and Sérgio bass. The latter 2 died in the summer of 1995 [Helena: 1996; in a bicycle-acident]. Lena, Miguel & Rui formed ‘Intervenzione’ then… I think I started corresponding with Rui because he distributed DIY tapes & vinyl (Fuck Off And Act!) and did a zine, Diabo No Corpo (DNC). He put out a compilation taped entitled When The Punks Go Marching In!!! (with live tracks of ‘Inkisição’). I also interviewed Helena for the Women in HC section of my zine Tilt! #8. They did a demo called 2”Arroto (2nd Burp) with the original line-up (Oliveira, Píncaro, Rui and Zé Vilao) and in ’92 they released a tape called Alternativa. Slime recs (Ataque Sonoro) put out the ‘X-Acto’/ ‘Inkisição’ split-CD in ’93 and a few years later a spit-7” with ‘Battle Of Disarm’. Their music was sometimes melodic, sometimes thrashy HC/punk… They toured with ‘Oi Polloi’ but these played on the Sunday…

Rui & Helena ‘Inkisiçao’ (band live pics will follow)

Third appearance of ‘Citizen Fish’ at the Vort’n Vis (after 93-02-21 & 93-10-24). Singer Dick Lucas had released a split-7” with ‘A.O.S. 3’ in 1993, hence the touring together, I reckon…? In March 1994 ‘C.F.’ recorded a couple tracks for a split-7” with the Japanese ‘Nukey Pikes’.

Paula ‘Spitboy’ & Pete ‘The Roadie’ (wife & husband) were mentioned in guestbook… Pete was roadie-ing for many a band a that time. Nowadays he sings in the Californian band ‘Kicker’ (with ‘Mauz’ from ‘Dystopia).

‘Citizen Fish’ Jasper, Phil & Pete The Roadie

One of the umptieth gigs ‘Bad Influence’ played here. About a year before they already supported ‘Citizen Fish’ – they were the ‘usual’ support for bands from Bath/Bristol area. I reckon this was the Afterbirth (10”) era with bassist Tim ‘Crow’ Shapland (ex ‘Zygote’) on bass and guitarist Egbert ‘Eggy’ Verheyen…

‘AOS3’, now touring with ‘Citizen Fish’ and ‘Bender’, had been here earlier in the year (94-01-30). They were from Sunderland and played reggae-rock-ska-dub-punk. They state they were part of the anarcho-punk movement and that their “lyrics reflect the band’s political stance”. The band consisted of Bill Radford (bass), Colin Cumpson (guitar), Erl R. (drums) and John Horabin (vocals). By the time they played here, they’d already a a couple of 7”s out: one entitled Tottenham 3 (Words Of Warning ’92) and a split with ‘Citizens Fish’ (Bluurg recs ’93); the LP God’s Secret Agent would be released later that year (also on W.O.W.). They also put out a live+studio tape entitled Apparently We Had A Great Time (1992). When they split up (their last gig was December ‘94), singer John relocated to London and formed ‘P.A.I.N.’ (with Phil from ‘Radical Dance Faction’). ‘AOS3’ reformed in 2007.

‘Bender’ (UK; reggae-dub-punk) also came along with ‘AOS3’ & ‘C.F.’ (see guestbook-entry). The band consisted of Alex Gordon (guitar/vocals), Jim Friedlander (bass) & Crum Hall (drums; he replaced Paolo). They had some tapes out and did a 7” & 2 LPs on Words Of Warning (94-96).

The Finnish ‘Selfish’, another band on Genet recs, performed for the 3rd time (after 92-07-25 & 93-10-31). October 1993 they had recorded for the split-LP with ‘Doom’ (out on Matthias Weigand’s label Ecocentric recs) with Otto Itkonen (drums), ‘Basse’ Sebastian Särekallio (vocals, R.I.P.), ‘Jaba’ Jaakko Penttinen (bass) and ‘Vikke’ (guitar; later also ‘Wind Of Pain’). In 1994 there was also the release of their split-7” with ‘Disclose’ (‘Selfish’ recordings from September 1993). This photo shows Sebastian, Otto & ‘Pedro Anthares’ (Petri Niskanen; on bass!?).

‘Agathocles’ played too… [unannounced; read below] Another appearance of the ‘masters of mincecore’)… I was never a big fan and questioned some of their dealings in the past but I must admit, now that they’re still going, that I admire especially Jan’s perseverance and dedication. With the many line-up changes, I can ‘t really recall who played when. Burt was kind of a constant factor to me; having known him from the Hageland Hardcore days and the gigs in his hometown Scherpenheuvel. In my brain guitarist Steve Houtmeyers doesn’t trigger any neurons and Rudy Pans is connected to ‘Intestinal Disease’…

Forgot who ‘Der Machinisten’ were…

Brob

‘Der Machinisten’… I did backing-vocals for them with my sister Benedicte in Ieper. Didier Volckaert, Matthias Cruyssaert, Ludovic Colpaert was the singer and someone else I forgot… They didn’t use any ‘real’ instruments. All industrial stuff.

Caroline Rouseré

‘Agathocles’ played on this day as well…

Rui Maia, ‘Inkisiçao’ drummer

Yeah, we played there! Around 1993 it was me, Rudy (ex ‘Intestinal Disease’ and nowadays ‘League Of Mental Men’- with an old Australian punk singing) on bass, Burt [Beyens] on drums and Steve [Houtmeyers;also founder of Intestinal Disease’, now in ‘Hypnos 69’]. On the photo below ‘Agathocles’ guitarist Steve is doing the vocals. He couldn’t play then…he had sprained his wrist. We did a few gigs with that line-up then, no recordings. It was in the “hall” of the V.V., not in the pub… Can’t remember much else though…

Jan Frederickx, ‘Agathocles’

‘Agathocles’; pic by Wim De Leersnijder

I used to play guitar for ‘Inkisiçao’ before this. I came over just for the concert because I live in Brussels and caught up with them.

Rui Ferreira

[After their first appearance 94-01-30] We came back to a completely contrasting event – hundreds of punks, a great gig in the bigger space which ended another great tour-run, and many tales from the road-crew of grandads who’d escaped death at Ieper by being seconded to the catering-crew just before the ‘big push’ – both under-age too – weird! The festival was fantastic and we were treated very well, then off to bed – with the biological experiment mattresses and still the same underwear nailed up.

Both ‘Oi Polloi’ (Deek Allan was accompanied by Calum Mackenzie – bass / Ade Crawford – drums / Ricky White – guitar) & ‘Doom’ had been here several times before (The Scots even less than half a year: 98-04-18); no need to introduce them. ‘Oi Polloi’s 7” THC was recorded right after this. ‘Doom’ had recorded for the split-10” with ‘Cress’ (out on Sned & Alec’s Flat Earth recs) in March with Chris Gascoigne (bass), ‘Stick’ (drums), ‘Bri’ & Denis Boardman (guitar) & Wayne Southworth (vocals; R.I.P.).

‘Doom’

‘Oi Polloi’

‘Filth Of Mankind’ (Gdansk, Poland) hadn’t been able to play the year before because of the general cancellation of the festival (see 97-09-20). This time they were invited back…

This is from their website (www.filthofmankind.nsm.pl): >>The organiser of the Leed Festival asked us (and ‘Money Drug’ to come over and do 3-4 shows with ‘Doom’. Unfortunately, a few days before we left, it turned out there were only 2; and when we got to Ieper we were told that there was only going to be this one at the fest. Bummer! Even before the journey it was clear that Maciek [Kowalski; vocals] couldn’t travel along, Milosz [Gassan; guitar] & ‘Balon’ [Paweł Szymański; drums] took the roaring name upon them – off course an enormous mental task. We played early on Saturday; the first part of the V.V. hall started to fill up. Milosz wanted to get things started but – still numb of the night before (alcohol & co) – had to look really hard to find the right strings. Once tuned, it seemed another key than the rest, so he started anew. That took about 10 minutes (if not more)… When we finally managed to get going, things were OK and the audience seemd to like it…<<

I believe the others in the band were Lazej/Anders Storm (later Michał Jędrejek) on bass and Pawel ‘Scream’ Rzóska (guitar). The band did a 7” (Czas Końca Wieku [End Of The Century]; ‘99) and an LP (The Final Chapter; 2000) on Scream recs. Their music was described as “Apocalyptic Crust” (dark, heavy and metal-influenced)…

The band ‘Link’ had people from the Ieper/Ypres & Lille (France) area: Vort’n Vis ‘shitworkers’ Michael Maes (guitar) & his partner Inge Cappoen (vocals), and Greg ‘Briko’ (bass) & ‘Juju’ Julien Dejonckheere (drums). After a couple of demos their 1st CD The Last Sacrifice (recorded with a drum-computer) was released in 2000. The music: “brutal metallic HC with a serious crust-punk edge & raging female vocals”. One reviewer actually believed Inge was really from Sweden… They’d played the V.V. a few times already (97-09-12, 97-12-26, 98-04-18; those last 2 times also with ‘Oi Polloi’).

‘Link’

‘Sarah’ were Bretons “fighting for their future, their language”. Their address stated “Breizh via France”. Breizh is the Breton name for Brittany (Bretagne, a region in the North-West of France). They wrote: “The French laws are improper for what is going on in Britttany, e.g. concerning water-pollution, agriculture,…” but they didn’t see themselves as nationalists: “We are communists.”. They were also a SxE band…“to show people that it is possible to live without drugs or alcohol”. They played hardcore/punk and also did a zine named An Eeunded. This was also their second appearance at the V.V. (after 98-04-19). The band consisted of Fabien Lecuyer (vocals/fiddle), Michaël Genevée (drums/accordion/fiddle), Erwan H. (guibasse/mandoline/piano) & Jérôme Bouthier (bass). They did 2 demos (Herzelomp Betek An Trec’h & Latcho Drom) and in 1999 they released Ez Eterninmens (4 track CD).

‘Outrage’, from the Herentals area, were Sigi Loots (drums), Steven Van Goubergen (guitar), Ringo Van Dingenen (vocals) and Nico Peeters (bass). This was after their 7” To Terrorize Ear And Mind (“a DIY product distributed by a network of friends”; recorded November ‘97) got out… They had played here a few times before (96-03-24, 96-08-16 & 97-03-01).

‘Peu-être’ have split up but 3 of them and 2 other people have formed an other band: ‘Alcatraz’.

Mike Ramounet, personal communication Dec. ‘96

I was proud to be able to play in that fabulous place that was the V.V. I’d already been there as a spectator and I never thought I’ld play there one day. To me the Vort’n Vis was like ABC No Rio. I remember we were wel recieved by everyone. This was a punk festival so there were a lot of people.

Mickaël ‘Mike’ Ramounet, ‘Alcatraz’ vocalist

I don’t remember much about the festivaI where I played with my band ‘Alcatraz’ except for the ‘Oi Polloi’ and ‘Outrage’ concerts (great!). Nico from ‘Outrage’ was very nice. We stayed at his place and I think it’s him who brought us to a woman whose job was producing great tofu. We had some of course :-).

Séverine Rambaud, ‘Alcatraz bassist’

We were and are always close to Breton and Basque separatist circles. Our bassist has been in prison for 2 years, accused of terrorism (he was acquitted). We did over 100 concerts in various countries…

Fabien Lecuyer; ‘Sarah’

That was my first performance ever! I remember that people from France video-taped the gig but I’ve never seen the footage.

An Caers

We did indeed also play with ‘Reller’… I Recently found back an old demo…trying to digitalise that… I know the ‘Alcatraz’ guys filmed our performance…

Nico Peeters, ‘Outrage’ bassist

The atmosphere was rather relaxed, contrary to HC ’98 in August. Only a few idiotic brawls outside the Vort’n Vis.

Stef Goos; personal communication Oct ‘98

I remember this concert. One of the few posters I kept…with the old ‘Link’ logo I drew…

‘Juju’ organised concerts in Lille for more than 10 years with his association Rock’n’Roll Jihad…

In 1997 the annual Ieper Rally took place June 27-29. Always a good time to stirr up some shit… Friday 97-06-27 there was the release-party of the ‘Spineless’ CD. ‘Satanic Surfers’ had been announced – another Genet recs promotion day … “Skool’s Out” – together with ‘Gwyllions’ for Sunday 97-06-29 but apparently that got changed around…

‘Satanic Surfers’, a melodic punk-rock band from Lund (Sweden), were at that time: Rodrigo Alfaro (drums/vocals; later singer of ‘Intensity’), ‘Tomek’ Tomasz Sokolowski (bass), Fredrik Jakobsen (guitar) & Magnus Blixtberg (guitar; also ‘Intensity’). They did numerous albums on Burning Heart recs & Bad taste recs but in ’97 Genet recs released a split-7” with covers (together with the Belgian band skate-punk band ‘Concrete Cell’). They were described as ‘NoFX’/’Bad Religion’ clones… ‘Intensity’ did a show at the V.V. on 99-06-27…

‘Pridebowl’ were mates of ‘S.S.’ and on the same label (Bad Taste recs). They played speedy, melodic punk-rock. The band consited of the Californian Aaron Goulding (vocals) and Henrik Nilsson (guitar), Stefan Glendell (guitar), Oskar Andersson (bass) & Martin Bodin (drums) who are all from Varberg, Sweden. In 1997 Genet recs released their LP Where You Put Your Trust. They did a one-week tour, playing three shows in France, a skate-festival in Italy and a couple of shows in Belgium.

‘Family Of Dog’ from Deinze, had already performed at the V.V. on 96-09-22 and would be back on 97-07-12. They played “metal” (Steve Noyelle’s words). The band was: Bert Walgraeve (bass), Stijn Everaert (drums), Peter Staelens & Wim De Taeye (guitar) and Tom Claus (vocals; also sang for ‘Congress’ on their Angry With The Sun CD). They released a promo-tape in ’96, did a split-7” with ‘Liar’ in ’97 (Genet recs) and a self-titled CD (Midas prods, ’98).

‘Sincerity’ was another band (metal-influenced HC) from Deinze. Members: ‘Sjaab’ Frederic Chaboteau (vocals), Maarten Kinet (bass; later ‘Lifecycle’ & ‘AmenRa’), Bram Walgraeve (guitar; brother of ‘Family of Dog’s Bert Walgraeve), Fré(derick) De Vogelaere (drums) & Thomas Hauttekeete (guitar; also ‘Instinct’). Bram & Fré were later in ‘King Creole’… The band played 2 more times here (97-07-12 & 97-10-12) but they split up somewhere in ‘98…

Brob

‘Family Of Dog’ did indeed open for ‘Satanic Surfers’, together with ‘Sincerity’. Don’t have the flyer anymore…

Tom Claus, ‘Family Of Dog’

Hilarious that guest-book entry!!! That’s us indeed. All I remember is a decrepit, improvised wooden stage where jumping was ‘not done’.

Sam Van Meirhaeghe, ‘Unsure’

‘Sincerity’ was a band that ‘Sjaab’ and I founded with Bram Walgraeve; soon Frederik De Vogelaere & Thomas Hauttekeete joined. I have vague recollections of ‘Sjaab’ writing something in the guestbook but no idea if it was the day we played the Vort’n Vis. I do know that we played there another time [97-10-12] with ‘Catharsis’, ‘Gehenna’, ‘Natural Order’ and some more bands I forgot about. I wouldn’t be surprised if ‘Family of Dog’ played then aswell; I saw them so many times that I might mix up some shows. It’s been a while after all. Anyway, we visited the V.V. quite often back then. I also rehearsed there with ‘Lifecycle’ (when I joined them after ‘Sincerity’ split up). Good & bad memories. But I have fond memories of that show with ‘Sincerity’: it was a band that I was proud of.

Maarten Kinet

excerpts from the V.V. guestbook:

Fredrik Jakobsen: “Fruitcake was more of an internal joke in the band.”

Concert organised by my mate Joeri Hoste (Emotive Impulse zine). He was a volunteer at the V.V. like myself and we’d tried to fuse our distros (also with Bruno VdV’s) but that didn’t work out… The day before (95-01-07) he’d already arranged a show in his hometown, Brugge with ‘Sticks & Stones’, ‘Blindfold’ (Bel), ‘Vanilla’ (Fra) and ‘Kosjer D’ (Bel).

‘Sticks & Stones’ were from Bridgewater, NJ. They had gained our attention when Charles Maggio of ‘Rorschach’ released the Theme Song For Nothing LP (‘92) on his label Gern Blandsten. That record featured bassist Osamu ‘Sam’ Kawahara (on this tour Rob Santello), drummer Chris Calello, Pietro (Peter) Ventantonio (a.k.a. Jack Terricloth) doing vocals & guitar, and guitarist ‘Johnny X’ Mike Cavallero. They’d already done some 7”s on various labels plus a tape that was intended to be released on ‘7 Seconds’ Positive recs (’88). In 1994 they released the LP The Optimist Club ‎(Tinnitus recs) and the EP Cynical (Chunksaah recs, a punk-rock label formed by ‘The Bouncing Souls’). The latter also released their disocragphy on CD (The Strife And Times; in 2003). In the beginning they played punk-rock (sometimes compared with ‘Stiff Little Fingers’) and evolved into “emotional post-hardcore, post straight-edge rock”.

Mike Cavallero claims the band never played Belgium (read below) but Joeri insist “They did! I even organised several gigs for them…” though the last newsletter before this gig mentions “‘Sticks & Stones’ quit their tour one week earlier than expected…”.

‘Autonomia Indigena’ (from the Orléans area) were a “fast political in-your-face hardcore band” with Audrey Lacroix (guitar), Franck Le Poder (vocals; also ‘Sea Shepherd’), José (bass) & Rodrigo (drums). The latter originated from Chile. Political HC (emo-crust) with an interest for Latino issues – some labeled them “the french Los Crudos”. Lyrics were in French and Spanish. They did a 7” on Ape recs in 1994. I believe they also did a split-tape with ‘Sea Shepherd’ in support of a squat. Christophe Mora of Stonehenge recs intended to do a split-7″ ‘Autonomia Indigena’/‘Vomit Yourself’ but it never happened…

At the time of this gig – right after their tour with ‘Blindfold’ – ‘Congress’ (who’d played here already a bunch of times, e.g. 93-04-25, 93-05-22, 94-01-08, etc.; and would return frequently, e.g. 95-04-09) consisted of Joost ‘Josh Fury’ Noyelle (guitar), ‘Uniform’ ‘UxJx’ Jan Vandekerckhove (bass), ‘Pitbull’ Pierre Vanrumbeke (vocals) and Ilja ‘Chill Jay’ De Ceuleneire (drums). No idea if their additional guitarist Michael ‘Micha Soprano’ Pintelon (also in ‘Deformity’) already played then. GoodLife’s marketing-strategy (“H8000 vegan edge-metal”) was in full swing. After the ‘release’ of the Euridium 7” (on Warehouse recs – the precursor to GoodLife – GL started officially on Jan 1st ‘96; a limited edition was handed out at their gig in The Pits, 94-12-23) the band started working on the Blackened Persistance (should actually be ‘Persistence’) album…

The Germans of ‘Stack’ were also announced early on but then they disappeared from the newsletters so I think their first passage was postponed until 95-04-28…

Brob

Sherry [Sherry Beth Sacks] (see 94-08-21) was a American girl that Marco [Walzel] was with briefly… A friend of ‘Hazel’ too. We tried some stuff out with Tom De Pauw (drummer of ‘Settle For Less’) and Jurgen Desmet but that didn’t work out, and few months later we tried again with Stijn [Persoons] and Arne [Van Petegem] of ‘Kosjer D’ but these guys played way better than us so we forgot about it…. There’s (luckily) no recordings of the band ‘Sherry’ left.

I’m pretty sure ‘Sticks & Stones’ never made it to Belgium. I did see them at the beginning of their tour (94-12-24) in Germany because they did a show with together with ‘Blindfold’. I had a chat with one of those guys and I would’ve known if they played in Brugge ‘cause I would’ve seen the guys back. In Brugge I think it was ‘Blindfold’, ‘Kosjer D’ and a ‘Moss Icon’ cover band with Joeri.

Jeroen Lauwers

Gern Blandsten released our first LP, Theme Song For Nothing, on vinyl only (Skene! was our actual label, and released the same record on CD. So it was a sort of partnership between the two labels.)

There was a German guy who went by the name of Goliath [Brettschneider] who had a business booking bands and renting vehicles and equipment. ‘Goli’ was on vacation with his girlfriend Beata, when they bought our album, Theme Song For Nothing. They liked it and contacted us offering to put a tour together. However, Goliath wanted to get out of the booking side of the business and only rent equipment, so he had a colleague of his named Detlev handle the actual booking. Since ‘Goli’ had instigated the whole thing and because he liked our record, he volunteered to drive us for part of the tour. Other drivers included these two German kids named Carston (Redman, maybe?) and Marcus, who had released our European-only LP, The Optimist Club. By the end of the tour, we drove ourselves.

Things started out very well. It was our 6th tour and we were unaccustomed to having any help, getting paid, having places to stay, good sized audiences and all those other positive things associated with the European scene. Our U.S. tours were mostly miserable. Unfortunately, as the tour progressed things started to fall apart. Dates in Austria and France were cancelled, or to be more precise, were never confirmed to begin with. We spent Christmas Eve in a post-office lobby because we had no money, food or anywhere to sleep. As things got worse, Detlev disappeared and would not return any phone-calls, leaving us on our own. We were able to replace some shows and sometimes we would just show up somewhere and ask to play. At our last show of the tour in Nuremberg [Nürnberg], Detlev finally showed up. He looked exhausted. It was clear that he felt terrible about how things had worked out but hadn’t known how to deal with it, so he just disappeared on us. I was prepared to be furious but when I saw him I didn’t have the heart to really say what was on my mind. If he had just communicated with us, things would have been better. Anyway, we went home a few days later and we didn’t play again for about 10 years.

‘Sticks & Stones’ may have been booked to play but we had numerous cancelations and I’m fairly certain we did not have any shows in Belgium, unfortunately. The band went to Europe only once. We played in Germany, Italy, Sweden and Denmark.

So… unfortunately Pete and Chris both say they don’t remember whether or not we ever played there, so not very helpful, I’m afraid. For my part, we have photos from every other part of the tour, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Sweden, but nothing from Belgium. As a professional cartoonist, I don’t think I would forget a visit to the centre of European comics. I’m fairly certain we were’t there. Maybe Goliath might be able to shed some light on the question. Of course you can draw whatever conclusion seems best.

During that time, I launched ‘Johnny X And the Conspiracy’ and ‘Zero Zero’ (with members of ‘Lifetime’) and Pete (a.k.a. Jack [Terricloth]) started ‘World Inferno Friendship Society’, which he’s still doing. ‘Sticks & Stones’ have been talking about playing a Christmas show [2014] in New Jersey with ‘The Bouncing Souls’, which seems to be happening.

Mike Cavallero, ‘Sticks & Stones’ guitarist

2 weeks before this (94-12-23), there was the presentation [at ‘The Pits’ in Kortrijk] of ‘Blindfold’s 7” World Of Fools. ‘Congress’ and ‘Blindfold’ started a Euro tour on Dec 25th. Both bands’ 7”s were free at the entrance. The ‘Congress’ 7” [Euridium] had a comic sleeve and ‘Blindfold’s 7” was available on green vinyl only at this local show. It came with an anti Lost & Found sticker: during that tour we (‘Blindfold’) had a run-in with the L&F boss [Bernd Granz], he came to a show and started an argument about the H8000 scene who were all aginst his label.

‘Subcaos’ 3rd appearance at the Vort’n Vis (after 93-08-01 & 94-04-02). The band came from Lisbon. Their vocalist Diogo Tovar Carvalho (vocals) was the editor of Recognize No Authority zine. In the beginning (’91) they had a bassist named Rui and drummer Hugo Begucho (ex ‘Alcoore’) in their ranks. Their ‘regular’ line-up became Diogo and ‘Xico’ (or Chico or FJ) singing, with guitarists João Abrantes & João Barrelas, bassist Tópê and drummer David. There was also a female singer (Rita) in the band in 93/94.Slime recs (which existed since 1989) changed it’s name to Ataque Sonoro around 1994/95 (ataquesonoro.blogspot) and released their split-album with ‘Genital Deformities’ in ’94.

‘Subcaos’; photographed by Henk Loobuyck

The first appearance of ‘Carcer Molochi’ in their first line-up, consisting of Erwin Degryse (guitar), David Stubbe (drums), Danny Suffys (bass), Johan Sys (vocals), Michael ‘Mike’ Maes (guitar) and Inge Cappoen (vocals). They were locals and most of them were V.V. ‘shitworkers’ so they performed a bunch of times over the years (95-03-05, 95-09-16, 96-02-24 & 96-09-21). Michael, Danny & Johan had been in ‘As Usual’ before. In ‘96 Bram ‘Lawaai’ Calbrecht (R.I.P.) replaced David. And by autumn that year ‘Mike’ took over, and ‘Gork’ (ex ‘Coche Bomba’ guitarist) became the second vocalist and Yannick ‘PikPik’ Moulière played bass.

‘Chosen Choice’ was a “thrashpunk” band from Lublin with guitarist Piotr(ek) Kowalczyk & drummer Marek (who was also in ‘Amen’). I have a vague idea of one of them living in Amsterdam and being in contact with Afonso (see below) from Cascais. They would come back 95-07-09.

In the V.V. notes there was also mention of a band named ‘Cerebrus’ or ‘Cerberus’. No idea who they were or if they actually played…

Brob

This gig was booked on short notice. I think the ‘Subcaos’ line-up was completely different.

João Abrantes

I met you, Brob! I used to distribute your zine through my mailorder (Freedom – or F.D.M. – Distro; which was done by Roland of ‘No Oppression’ at first). At the moment I’m writing a book on Portuguese punk/HC from 1978-98. When I finish that I can send you material and stories: I still have – I hope – photos from the V.V. and will surely contribute them.

Afonso Cortez Pinto

I couldn’t go to that 3rd ‘Subcaos’ tour in December ’94. Joao Abrantes didn’t go either I think (in fact he left the band in ’95). That line-up is different from the ’93 one (no Tópê on bass but Ricardo -on the photo- replacing Tópê (Antonio Pedro)… Not sure who’s the drummer on the pic).

I don’t remember the chronology of out line-ups very well anymore. The band recorded sporadically in the 2000s. In fact that was the best time of the band: we (the line-up consisted of metal guys into punk; ‘Libe’ – João Barrelas – also for a while) played a festival and several shows in Portugal; all very brutal and intense, We had a lot of fun.